Frigidaire LRA074AT7 (6,500 BTU)

If you need to cool a small room of 150 to 225 feet, experts and owners say the Frigidaire LRA074AT7 6,500-BTU window air conditioner is your best bet. Sold exclusively at Lowe's, this unit costs no more than the smaller-capacity Kenmore 70051 (*Est. $160), a 5,200-BTU model that can cool up to 150 square feet. However, experts say the Kenmore is actually the better buy for a very compact space since a too-powerful model would cycle on and off so often that it actually wastes power. An air conditioner that's too large can also leave a room feeling uncomfortably damp.

Like the Kenmore, the LRA074AT7 is Energy Star-rated, and reviews say its energy-saver mode really can shave a few dollars off your electricity bill. Remote control, sleep mode and a 24-hour timer are other perks. Experts and most owners find this air conditioner very quiet, but a few complain that the units they bought rattled. The only real weakness with the Frigidaire LRA074AT7 is that it does a poor job aiming airflow to the right.

The best feedback for the Frigidaire LRA074AT7 is at ConsumerReports.org, which includes it among the air conditioners it tests. A good selection of user reviews can be found at Lowes.com.